FIFA Soccer 2012 Review – The best so far, with minor complaints

Back in the old sport game days in PCs, FIFA Soccer was the standard for soccer games. Then the Pro Evolution Soccer saga entered the PC fray, after its long success in console systems, and most would agree and say that they won that battle. But of course, the iOS (iPad and iPhone) era set a new stage, where we meet FIFA Soccer 2012.

Previous editions of the FIFA franchise were, to put it clearly, very disappointing. Bad animations, hard controls and a lousy experience. The X Soccer franchise won the iOS battle for a while, but Electronic Arts wanted this piece of the iPad cake, and FIFA Soccer 2012 is the answer fresh from the oven, straight to your iPhone.

FIFA Soccer 2012 is a very solid game. Smooth animations and a good control scheme make for an awesome game, spiced up with the complete league licenses. You won’t be playing with any Rolando or Nessi in FIFA Soccer 2012. In addition to the standard match after match playing, you can also play in “manager mode”, where your goal is to take your team to the top, while managing also the resources.

Anything I’m missing in FIFA Soccer 2012? Well, not really. I’m disappointed with the slow menus: getting from one game to the next is very slow, not in loading screens but from menu to menu. And when changing lineups I have to needlessly press 3 or 4 menu screens. Why? Also, the game feels like an advertising: every time I open it, EA decides to spam me with some stupid discount or offer I’m not interested in. Or trying to get me to rate FIFA Soccer 2012. If I want to rate the app, I’ll do it when I want.

Overall, FIFA Soccer 2012 is an awesome game for any soccer (or football) aficionado, if only you can stand the not-so-subtle advertising of other EA titles. This may sound like a minor complaint, but since the game is not free, advertisement should be limited to… well, no ads. If you can stand this, FIFA Soccer 2012 is the best there is.

Quick Take

Value:High

Would I Buy Again:Probably

Learning Curve:Medium

Who Is It For:Soccer game lovers

What I Like:The control scheme and animations

What I Don't Like:The constant advertising on start and the poor keeper AI

Final Statement:The best soccer game for iPad so far. Could be better, but it's pretty good nonetheless

LOVE FOOTBALL. PLAY FOOTBALL. Experience the action of your favorite sport like never before! Watch matches come to life with vibrant graphics, ultra realistic animations, and the most responsive controls ever delivered on iPad. Now for the first time on iPad, take your club to the top of the league table with Manager Mode.

BRING YOUR CLUB TO GLORY IN MANAGER MODE
Trade players, upgrade staff, scout for talent, and collect trophies. Develop players and choose the best tactics to make your squad the team to beat!

REAL PLAYERS, REAL TEAMS, REAL LEAGUES
Featuring over 22 officially licensed leagues, 500 licensed teams and more than 15,000 players. Take to the pitch with superstars like Kaka, Wayne Rooney, Gerard Piqué, Karim Benzema and more. From the English Premiership and La Liga, to the German Bundesliga and beyond – dominate your league and march toward glory in 32 authentic stadiums.

WANT TO BE A HERO? TRY THE DAILY CHALLENGES
Can you win a match with a penalty kick? How about scoring with a header after a cross? Earn glorious achievements with Daily Challenges – only on Origin!

Screenshots

Ruben Berenguel is finishing his PhD in Mathematics while writing in mostlymaths.net about being a 'geek of all trades'. He also happens to be the senior editor in the What's on iPhone network: any complaints go to him!